The Chicago Bears made a quiet but telling roster move ahead of their Wild Card showdown with the Green Bay Packers as they re-signed veteran linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to the practice squad.
According to Brad Biggs, the move was made with the expectation that Reeves-Maybin could be elevated to the active roster for Saturday’s playoff matchup against Green Bay.
The move reunites the Bears with an already proven special teams ace who already spent time with the club earlier this season and brings playoff-tested experience into a week where the smallest details can swing a game.
Reeves-Maybin, a former Pro Bowler and second team All-Pro as a special teamer, appeared in three regular season games for Chicago earlier this year, logging 50 special teams snaps in that stretch.
In a corresponding move, the Bears placed Ty Summers on practice squad injured reserve due to a right foot injury, opening the door for Reeves-Maybin’s return even further.
A playoff ready special teams weapon
GettyLinebacker/Special Teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin
The Chicago Bears special teams have been… At best, uneven. Most notably in week 9 against Cincinnati, a game that featured a 98 yard kickoff return touchdown, a blocked field goal, a missed 47 yarder, and a poorly executed onside kick sequence that nearly swung the outcome despite a Bears win. This is where Reeves-Maybin enters the picture.
While Reeves-Maybin has never been a full time defensive starter, his value has always come on special teams. In fact, from 2017 to 2024 he played at least 60% of his team’s special teams snaps in all but just one season.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin has also appeared in four career postseason games, and the Bears are hoping that his experience can translate in the playoffs against the Packers.
Even further, there’s also familiarity at play. Reeves-Maybin spent the bulk of his career with the Detroit Lions where he crossed paths with now Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Leadership beyond the field
GettyLinebacker/Special Teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Adding Jalen Reeves-Maybin also brings a bit of an unique leadership element into the locker room. He currently serves as the president of the NFL Players Association, which actually made him the first active NFLPA president to be on the Bears’ roster.
While that obviously won’t show up on a stat sheet, it reinforces the idea that Chicago is prioritizing things like professionalism and leadership as the postseason begins.
On paper, re-signing a practice squad special teamer doesn’t exactly dominate the headlines. But playoff football comes down to the margins, and Reeves-Maybin has built his career by thriving in them.
Now if he’s elevated for Saturday against Green Bay, the Bears will by no means be asking him to change the entire game. Rather, they will be asking him to bring his veteran leadership on special teams to make sure the game doesn’t slip away in the moments most teams overlook.
The Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Saturday, Jan. 10, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT in their Wild Card playoff matchup.
Bears Add Former All-Pro Linebacker Ahead of Playoff Matchup vs. Packers